Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) staged an overnight protest following a directive from the Bangladesh Election Commission prohibiting any elections before the national polls. The protest intensified across the campus on Monday night, with student groups including Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir organizing demonstrations at various locations. During the agitation, a vice president candidate from Bijoy 24 Hall suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to Mount Adora Hospital.

In the early hours of Tuesday, SUST students and the university’s election commission held discussions with the administration. After lengthy talks, all parties agreed that by 5 p.m. today, the university administration must consult the Bangladesh Election Commission and announce a clear “yes” or “no” decision on whether the SUST Central Students’ Union (ShakSU) election will proceed on January 20.

The vice-chancellor, currently in Dhaka, informed through the deputy vice-chancellor that he would meet the chief adviser between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and could visit the Election Commission afterward. Students set a firm deadline for the administration to deliver a decision within the stipulated time.